How sick is too sick with a chest infection? I cant breathe.

[hereidrawtheline]

Last Monday I got very sick with a chest infection & fever. Tuesday I went to see the nurse who DX chest infection & fever & gave me antibiotics. Now its Friday and I am worse my fever is better but only marginally but my breathing is impossible. I really can not breathe its horrible. It feels like my lungs have been filled with concrete. I went back to see the Dr today - saw the horrible one I hate but the good one wasnt there. She said there was a crackle in both lungs & gave me a prescription for some stronger antibiotics. But really I dont know how I am going to cope. I cant fill my lungs up. I am feeling almost claustrophobic at the moment. I am coughing loads too but right now just trying to sit upright very still and take my mind off of it on the laptop but I really cant think of anything. It is killing me. I havent eaten all week really either.

I had pneumonia about 10 years ago and I am afraid of that happening again. But on the other hand I think no matter what I must not go into hospital because DS 2.6 is ASD and really needs me and would be gutted and confused and distressed if I wasnt around. I dont know what to do. I really just cant breathe.

We hate that GP.
we've just changed to the other one in the practice who we had already chosen for our DS.
Unfortunatley when he isn't around, she sees patients. I nearly lost it with her today and shouted out in the waiting room as we were leaving.

I am worrying.
I am sure it will be ok but I am worrying.

I also said something to her in a stupid way while we were on the phone with NHSDirect and it really upset her.

I'm so pissed off with myself. I was trying to make her feel better and I made her feel worse.

I love her so much and i can't bear to not only have her gone but gone and upset.

Don't worry about what you said to her in the stressful situation that you were in. When she is more settled and able to think back, she will remember you were worried sick about her adn your DS and not think too much about your comment.

It is Valentine's Day tomorrow, you can go and get her some lovely flowers and some chocs to cheer her (and yourself) up.

Do you have any family or friends nearby who can help? Someone that your DS trusts?

Here is a very unMNetty (((hug))) from me too. First time I have offered a hug on MN. Don't tell anyone else.

going to phone in 5 mins will keep you updated

i have just phoned to see what the status is and the a&e dept said that they have a whole corridot of paramedics trying to offload patients.
she advised me to call back in an hour!

i am so upset.

i really am pissed at myself for putting my foot in my mouth so much
i am worse than the average man at being able to form coherent verbal sentences.
i was trying to convey something and what she took from it was totally not what was intended
but it was what she took from it that was important and i upset her at a moment of stress. i am sick with worry over her and just want to hold her.

i hope DS sleeps too as i don't know what i'm going to do if he asks for her

i've just remembered it's friday 13th today.
oh lord i didn't realise that

Don't panic. If she is having severe difficulties in breathing then they will see her first.

Dont even think about the date. Only good things have ever happened to me on Friday 13th.

MmeLinddt - i know. her breathing was improving before she left and after the oxygen.
the paramedic (although annoying) knew what he was doing and said that the short breaths she had been taking prior to calling NHSDirect were likely leading to hyperventilating and she the oxygen calmed it back to normal.
she has had pheumonia before about 10 years ago and i just keep thinking of that.
if they get it early then it's ok.
i'm hoping it is just the chest infection and the new antibiotics will kick it.

they forgot to take her meds with them. i got them all together here.

thanks for the support everyone

i've got a bad thing with friday the 13th.
i'm trying not to think about it.

Just asked my Mum, she used to be a NHS receptionist. She said that they would normally see someone with breathing difficulties fairly quickly, certainly before patients with sprains and strains etc.

thanks MmeLindt
i work for the NHS myself and i can't bear thinking of her just sitting there in a corridor. sometimes the paramedics or ambulance staff stay with people.

i wouldn't want her to be stuck with that paramedic

I agree with Herbietea, try and distract yourself with stupid TV programmes, or check out the MN classic threads.

I am off to bed now (am in Switzerland and it is already 11pm here) but as mentioned earlier, there is always someone online throughout the night if you are awake and worried.

You could check out the M&S website for a lovely wee gift for your DW

Good luck to both of you. Hope your son sleeps through the night and is ok.

herbietea
does your DH want to sink into the ground whenever he says something in a stupid way?

i can't sit still at the moment. i can't relax. i might try and make a cup of tea i don't know.
i think i'll just stay on here. i can't watch TV.

yes i know DW can read this thread. that is good but she knows how i feel. i just can't talk for shit.

i will post this though, for her benefit:
i do want her to know that as she rolls into Valentine's Day she is the most important person in the world to me, more important than myself or anyone else
i love her with all my heart and i am so sorry that i can't express to her exactly how i feel

going to phone again in fifteen minutes

well herbietea, whatever the deal is i can't ever say things properly. they always come out cackhanded and i genuinely mean something that in my head did make sense.
it's something wrong with me and i'm trying to improve.
i'm better in print than in spoken word.

pity i can't communicate solely that way.

i'm going to phone again now

thanks herbietea
hope you have a good sleep
i am on hold at the moment...........

update:
i just finally got through to a&e and then they put me 'round the back' and then i got through to someone else who told me that HIDTL is waiting to be assessed my nursing staff, so i guess that is a good thing.
if she was in a bad state when she arrived they would have seen her straight away, but it still means she is there all on her own and i am here.
where the phones are is nowhere near where patients are so i couldn't speak with her but i asked the man if he would pass on the message to her that it was me trying to track her down and see how she was and that i was thinking of her

i will phone again in another hour to see what the status is.

i know no-one is reading now, but i'm doing it for peace of mind

well what i've been dreading happening has just happened
DS has woken up asking for Mama because it nose isn't happy
wanted to go in Mama's be and no amount of misdirection worked.
he is now is Mama's bed waiting for me to join him and calmed down after being told that Mama has gone to see the doctor because of her cough.
he repeatedly asked if i was happy and healthy and if Mama was and said that he was.

i am going to go be with him

hello, I was just about to go to bed but wanted to post. Hope everything is OK with DW. Get into bed with DS and have a cuddle. Hopefully everything will seem better in the morning. Keep us posted.

I am reading it. True, I will be going to bed in a minute, but all good thoughts to your dw and to you, and I hope your ds sleeps through and has a peaceful night...

FWIW, I've had to go to hospital and been worried about leaving my dd in a vulnerable state - and knowing my dh was there with her was the only thing that made it possible, and reasonably ok. She won't be thinking about whatever you said to her, she'll be hoping ds is asleep and thinking about getting back to the two of you - I bet.

And for Valentine's day, I wish her home with you by morning, reassured by the medical team, and ds fast asleep in his bed till then...take care of yourself, you know she'd want you to.